The 2022 quarterback draft class isn’t blessed with star-studded high-end talent. Nor is there a consensus number one quarterback. Not a player in the mould of a Trevor Lawrence – deemed a generational talent – but just a quarterback that stands above the rest as the clear and definitive number one guy in the class. It doesn’t have that, but there are certainly a number of signal callers who could potentially be everyday NFL starting QBs in the next three-to-five years.
It might not be the draft class of 2021, where 5 quarterbacks were taken in the top 15 picks. Heck, there’s a very real possibility that only three quarterbacks could have their names called on day one of the draft. But quarterback is still the most important position in football. Despite there being no true number one guy, the talk about which QBwill come off the board first is rampant. That’s how encompassing the position is.
Five quarterbacks stand out amongst the draft class: Malik Willis, Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder, Matt Corral, and Sam Howell. There are also at least five teams who could potentially be looking for a quarterback in this draft. That means, they’ll all get picked, and realistically, they’ll all be off the board by the third round.
Each quarterback has their own respective skillset, their own style of play, and their own set of intangibles. And each team will have an idea of who they want to draft, but which quarterbacks fit where in the puzzle? Let’s start with Willis.
Malik Willis, Liberty
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 225lbs
Arms: 31 ¾”
Hands: 9 ½”
Willis is the favourite to be the first quarterback off the board on draft night. His dual-threat ability makes him the quarterback with the highest ceiling, but like the rest of the class, Willis is full of legitimate concerns and warts. However, the combination of the good, the bad, and the ugly make him the biggest boom-or-bust prospect in 2022.
A two-year starter at Liberty after transferring from Auburn, Willis threw for 5,112 passing yards, 47 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions in 23 games. His performance in 2021 dipped after a strong first year in Liberty, but Willis flashed enough tools to help his stock rise.
Based on physical talent alone, Willis stands above the rest. He can get immense torque in his throws from almost any angle, has the strongest arm in the class, and is a powerful and elusive runner. His big-time throw rate was the highest among all quarterbacks in FBS, per PFF and Willis has one of the best deep balls in the draft.
Willis’ raw tools are all translatable to the NFL, which is a great sign for his development, but the question marks that blight him are enough to make him more of a developmental starting QB. His accuracy dipped from 64.3 percent to 61.4 in 2021 – some of that was due to a lack of help around him, but Willis’s platform throwing has proven to be wildly inconsistent at times.
His inaccuracy issues, paired with a tendency to hold onto the ball too long, resulting in a high sack-rate, and a fear of occasionally targeting the middle of the field means Willis has a lot of work to do before he reaches his full potential.
But that’s also the case for most quarterbacks. No one comes into the NFL as a finished product, there’s always room for growth. And with talent like Willis’, the chance of him maximising his potential feels high – but he needs to end up in the right scenario. An offense that emphasises vertical concepts, mixed with some quick-read RPO concepts would be a great fit.
That’s why the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Detroit Lions make the most sense. The Steelers utilised a quick passing game with Ben Roethlisberger over the last few years and, despite an obvious decline in play, it worked. The added bonus with Willis is his ability to break the pocket, and make plays out of structure with his arm or his legs.
The Lions are almost a good fit, but the issue is the draft order. The Lions might want to emphasise bolstering the defense with the 2nd overall pick, and Willis will likely be gone by the time the Lions pick again at 32.
Best Fit: Pittsburgh Steelers
Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
Height: 6’3 ¼”
Weight: 217lbs
Arms: 30 ⅞”
Hands: 8 ½”
Pickett is the defacto late-riser of the class. After three below-average years as the Pittsburgh starter, Pickett exploded onto the scene in 2021 with 4319 passing yards, 42 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, vaulting him into the discussion as the number one quarterback in the class.
His mobility isn’t elite, but it’s good. His processing speed needs work as does his decision-making, but both are above average. Pickett feels like an all-around natural quarterback who wins with feel, competitive edge, and an understanding of the nuances of the position.
He doesn’t have the best arm in the class, but it’s clear that Pickett doesn’t lack arm talent. He has a quick and clean throwing motion and can comfortably push the ball downfield and into tight windows with velocity. Like Willis, he can work off script and is accurate on the move. And while he’s not an elite athlete, his ability to make defenders miss on the move and in open space demands attention.
Though his processing speed is good for college, it’ll need work at the pro-level, especially if he’s in an offense that’s more than one or two-read progressions. Though Willis has the higher ceiling, Pickett might have more suitors as he’s not as reliant on a scheme that caters to his specific needs. The Panthers feel like an appropriate fit based on the obvious need, but Pickett could work just as well in an offense littered with speedy weapons.
Best fit: Carolina Panthers
Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 207lbs
Arms: 32’ ⅞”
Hands: 10”
The most pro-ready quarterback in the draft class, Desmond Ridder can step into an NFL offense from day one and provide functional play. Ridder was instrumental in steering the Bearcats into the College Football Playoffs in 2021 and his Senior Bowl performance helped cement his status as one of the best quarterback prospects in 2022.
Ridder capped off his senior season with 3334 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, 8 interceptions and a 90.7 PFF grade. What makes Ridder the most NFL-ready quarterback, though? It’s his processing speed. He’s able to scan through his progressions, manipulate defenders with his eyes, and get the ball out on time.
Surprisingly, there is a juxtaposition between his processing and accuracy – which is a rather large blemish on his game. His completion percentage was just under 65 percent in 2021, but Ridder’s ball placement leaves a lot to be desired. His base is often inconsistent and he struggles to set his feet if pressured. It’s certainly a fixable issue, but it’s difficult to see too much of an improvement.
However, Ridder still has the chance to be a first round pick on Draft Night. He’s a plus-level athlete and has one of the best arms in the class while flashing glimpses of accuracy – though he has to remain consistent in that department.
An ideal fit for Ridder could be in the NFC South with the Falcons or the Saints. Both are in the hunt for long-term answers at the quarterback position, and Arthur Smith’s heavy play-action offense in Atlanta could be a desirable option. However, it seems more likely that Ridder could land with the Saints due to draft order.
Best Fit: Atlanta Falcons
Matt Corral, Ole Miss
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 205lbs
Arms: 30 ¾”
Hands: 9⅝”
Injuries slowed down Matt Corral in 2021 after a strong start to the season, but there’s still a lot to like about the Ole Miss product. For starters his arm talent is great. Corral can drive the ball into tight windows on short and intermediate throws with velocity and has one of the quickest and smoothest throwing motions in the class. While he possesses natural arm talent, his arm strength is lacking. That could affect his ability to complete downfield throws with consistency at the NFL-level.
What isn’t lacking, though, is his ability to make plays with his legs. He’s a plus athlete, but he also knows when to stick in the pocket. His scramble-happy approach has led to him getting hurt, but if continues to build on his decision-making, when to stay in the pocket and when to bail, it could help his development.
The real concern about Corral, though, is his ability to work in an NFL-style offense early on and his ability to throw deep. His offense at Ole Miss was heavily schemed around getting the ball out quick with RPO’s and short-passing concepts, but he showed he could willingly distribute the ball across the field.
Corral, like a few other names on the list, might not be viewed as a day one starter. He’ll need time to develop and learn an NFL offense under a veteran quarterback, but he has the tools to become an eventual starter. If given time, he could flourish in the Saints offense if they were to cater to more RPOs, but could also be viewed as a replacement for Carson Wentz in Washington – even if he hasn’t taken a snap for the Commanders yet.
Best Fit: Washington Commanders
Sam Howell, North Carolina
Height: 6’0 ¼”
Weight: 221lbs
Arms: 31 ⅛”
Hands: 9 ⅛”
Howell took a step back as a passer in 2021. No longer the natural selection for the first quarterback off the board, he’s still one of the most intriguing and best options at the quarterback position in the class. He’s got a laser guided missile launcher for an arm, can showcase it by making every throw and might just be the best deep ball passer in the class – something that should be a real positive for interested teams.
A significant amount of his regression as a passer can be linked to one-dimensional supporting cast in North Carolina, but Howell’s accuracy also dropped from 68 percent to 61.5 percent. Some of the blame must be put on him.
He often struggled to progress beyond his first read which led to some questionable decision-making. North Carolina’s poor offensive output did require Howell to grow as a running threat, though, and the results were impressive.
His stocky frame and elusiveness allowed him to break 65 tackles in 2021, and his dual-threat ability could prove to be a problem for defenses at the next level. However, Howell won’t be able to rely on his athleticism like he did in college. There were too many instances where he would be a one-and-run quarterback – making his first read and then scrambling out of the pocket when it wasn’t there.
The majority of North Carolina’s concepts were RPO’s or go routes, so Howell’s learning curve could be vast. But he’s shown enough raw talent, accuracy, and coachability during his time as a starter that he’s worth a gamble. Howell could work well in an offense that allows him to stretch the field vertically while keeping his short and intermediate concepts relatively simple – at least in his first few years.
That could lead him to the Seattle Seahawks, who could be targeting a quarterback after trading Russell Wilson to the Broncos. There’s no rush to get him onto the field from day one, but Howell would probably win the starting job over Drew Lock. He’d have key weapons who can stretch the field in D.K. Metcalf (assuming he’s not traded) and Tyler Lockett (ditto).
Best Fit: Seattle Seahawks
-Thomas Valentine
Twitter: @ThomasValenfine
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